Thai New Year: what to eat
Thai New Year is celebrated between the 13th and 15th April. Here are some celebratory menu suggestions.
Thai New Year is celebrated between the 13th and 15th April. Why not have your own celebration exploring Thailand's aromatic and spicy cuisine by trying some of these excellent recipes? Just remember to stock up on garlic and ginger first!
Prawn noodle rolls
A good way to kick things off: fresh spring rolls made with prawns, cashew nuts and cucumber. This recipe also introduces an essential Thai dipping sauce made with ginger, chilli, lime juice and sesame oil. Add a touch of soy sauce if you want too. This sauce works well with plenty of other Thai dishes.
Griddled prawn Thai salad
A shareable plate of griddled prawns, served with a crisp salad of onions, carrots and cabbage and a dip made with coconut milk, red curry paste and smooth peanut butter. Make it as a starter to share but also make sure you're sitting closest to the plate and get ready to defend your portion!
Chicken pad thai
Pad thai is possibly the most well-known Thai dish, and for more than one good reason. While takeaways might always do a storming trade selling this meal, a homemade version with lean chicken is just as good, though vegetarians can make a substitution for tofu and leave out the fishy pastes and sauces.
Thai red curry
Gordon Ramsay suggests using duck and lychees to complement each other in the creamy red curry sauce made with galangal (use ginger if you can't find it), Kaffir lime leaves, garlic and lemongrass. If you don't have time to make your own paste, shop-bought works. Good oriential supermarkets stock good quality pastes.
Thai green curry
Thai green curry is another option for the spice lover. André Dupin likes to use king prawns in his, and serve it over jasmine rice. The sauce is made with lemongrass, Thai basil, coconut milk, shrimp paste, fish sauce and garlic cloves, giving it that unmistakeable complex aroma and silky texture.
Spiced fishcakes
White fish jazzed up with Thai green curry paste and breadcrumbs to make delicious fishcakes. Serve with a fruity som tam salad containing mango, peanuts and courgettes, then garnish the plate with diced coriander. A dipping sauce made with sesame oil, soy sauce, diced chillies and lime juice can work well here.
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